Olympic National Park officials say keep away from goats

Published 11:07 am, Saturday, July 9, 2016

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, Wash. (AP) — Officials at Olympic National Park are warning visitors to keep their distance from mountain goats.

Park superintendent Sarah Creachbaum says mountain goats are wild animals that are capable of causing serious injury or even death. She says visitors to the park should keep a distance of at least 50 yards from all park wildlife.

Officials say mountain goats are unpredictable. They have sharp horns and powerful bodies that can inflict significant or lethal injuries.

In 2010, a mountain goat fatally gored a visitor who was hiking in the Hurricane Ridge area of the park.

The most recent census, held in 2011, shows that the mountain goat population had increased 5 percent each year since 2004. With increasing numbers, there's an increased likelihood that visitors will encounter the goats.